In 2008, the Code of Ethics of the International Leadership Coalition of Professional Child and Youth Care was adopted by Canadian Council of Child and Youth Care Associations. The Ethics document resulted from the work of Martha A. Mattingly of the Program in Child Development and Child Care, University of Pittsburgh who conducted a meta-analysis of existing codes and consulted widely throughout the child and youth care associations of the day. Her work was viewed as comprehensive and inclusive by the Council, rendering any attempt to craft an alternative would be an exercise in replication. As such, the Council as well as many Provincial Associations and Education Institutes, and agencies have adopted this Code of Ethics as their guiding principles.

The Child and Youth Care Code of Ethics incorporates five areas of responsibility for Child and Youth Care Professionals:1. Responsibility to Self2. Responsibility to the Client3. Responsibility to the Organization4. Responsibility to the Profession5. Responsibility to Society